Walter Pall's main blog about bonsai and his work with trees from day to day. Lots of good pictures of good trees and lots of valuable information about bonsai.

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Reiner the bear

This spruce has caused enormous turmoil on a couple of forums. On the
IBC gallery Reiner Goebel declared it the biggest misunderstanding in
the history of bonsai - right back to the stone ages. This was not
always funny. It often has crossed the border to insult. Well, in
hindsight it was that last big upheaval of the bonsai fundamentalists.
It was only four years ago. But it seems so long ago. Then the
fundamentalists did and could believe to be a majority. Times have
changed and they are not a majority, that's for sure.
Fudamentalists
know the truth, they know what is right and what is wrong. They are
utterly inflexible and liberal is a curseword for them. This is a
liberal bonsai, that's for sure. Nobody has to like it, but nobody
should insult it.
So how much harm has this done to me, to the
bonsai world? I think it has done me a lot of good. It has made me
famous. Thank you Reiner. And it has changed the bonsai world - a bit.
But not into the direction that Reiner thought of.

1)and 2) before renovation
3) and 4) as of August 2007
5) as of summer 2001

I miss you and reiners baiting on the ibc,it was good fun.Naming a tree after him is great,brought a smile to my face.It's a good tree,but is definetly a love it or hate it tree,and there is nothing wrong with that,in fact everything is right about it,see you at gingko